Spiral of Madness: Ascension of the Villainous Dragon Prince-Chapter 82: The VPI Agents Are Here - Uncle Eduard [1]

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Sinners came in all shapes and sizes, and not all of them were born from the union of an Anomaly and a human. Some began as ordinary humans who inherited the power of an Entity like Mirai, or they could be something entirely different.

Eduard Dickson, Louis’s uncle and Gustaf’s younger brother, was another devoted scientist and Esper. Though never as powerful as his older sibling, he worked tirelessly alongside Gustaf to shield humanity from the horrors of the Dimensional Labyrinth and the Grievances that hungered to consume the world and wipe away all traces of human history.

Ten years ago, he volunteered for an expedition into the First Layers of the Dimensional Labyrinth. His team fell to an ambush by a swarm of powerful Entities commanded by a Grievance, and they disappeared for months. Gustaf sank into profound depression, certain his brother was lost forever. He became even more emotionless and withdrawn from his family.

Yet after seven agonizing months, Eduard returned—alone. At first, no one recognized him. He appeared as a grotesque fusion of household appliances twisted into a barely humanoid form. He was immediately quarantined. After a month of exhaustive tests and interrogations, they confirmed this Entity was truly Eduard. Though he could not remember his transformation, his memories remained perfectly intact.

With dedicated training and support, Eduard adapted to his new existence and mastered its capabilities. He earned the alias Radiohead and became one of the VPI’s first Sinner agents to serve the government. Since then, he has carried out countless missions across the world, using his Entity powers to contain spreading Fantasium Fields and delve deeper into the Dimensional Labyrinth. He explored uncharted layers, returning with vital materials and critical knowledge about the dangers lurking below.

"Why weren’t you there when we faced a Tier 5 Spiralwalker who summoned the Abyssal Mother, Uncle?" Louis asked, forcing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "You could have made all the difference... But no, you were buried deep in the Dimensional Labyrinth."

"I-I already apologized to your father for that! I swear I’ll make it up this time! That’s why I’m here! C-Come on now, Louis!" Radiohead waved his long arms awkwardly, static crackling as he tried to inject humor into the tension, but the prince’s expression stayed cold. "I remember when you used to laugh at my jokes all the time. You’ve become such a serious young man..."

"Whatever," Louis muttered, brushing past his uncle to greet the other agents formally. "Welcome, everyone. Thank you for arriving in time."

"We encountered some complications, so we were delayed. We needed to prepare thoroughly for a Grievance," a young woman with short pink hair and golden eyes said, waving cheerfully. Louis immediately noticed the wooden antlers sprouting from her forehead and the long wooden tails swaying behind her agent attire. She wore a pink skirt over white tights, a gray blouse, and a black jacket adorned with numerous pink gadgets. She clearly adored the color of her hair. Louis had met her only a few times, but she was a key VPI agent from Spiritias—Althea.

"If you hadn’t spent so long deciding on gadgets and drone colors, we’d have arrived much sooner, sister," sighed a tall, slender, stunning blonde woman with hair flowing to her hips. She had piercing red eyes, pointed ears, and visible sharp canine fangs. She was one of the rare Vampires in the VPI’s elite Shadow Sundering Order, its leading figure—Stella. As Althea’s sister, she too hailed from Spiritias, though Louis remained unsure how she was a Vampire while her sister resembled a Nature Spirit Race. She wore fitted white pants, a white blouse, and a red jacket, with belts securing various small weapons.

"Hey, I already apologized, Stella. You don’t need to keep bringing it up..." Althea sighed, her expression falling. "Don’t you remember what father always said? We have to support each other in this new world?"

"Yes, and I’m supporting you by pointing out your obsession with looking ’cute’ when it has no place in VPI work," Stella replied, crossing her arms. "And—"

"Okay, enough, girls. We understand. We’re here for a mission—a major one," the tallest among them interrupted, a burly young man with warm brown skin and long black hair in a ponytail. He had sharp green eyes and wore jeans, a black shirt, and a sleeveless black leather jacket. Unlike Althea and Stella, Agent Stone was purely Earth-born. He was a powerful Esper who had trained extensively in body refinement techniques, specializing in overwhelming physical might. His resilience, endurance, and battlefield tactics had secured him the 14th rank among agents for Merit and Strength. Stone embodied reliability.

"Haaah... I still wonder why they sent me here. I really don’t want to be..." the fifth member finally spoke, his eyes perpetually closed, reminding Louis of Priest Soma. This lean, tall man with wild white hair and a carefree serene smile wore simple white cloths wrapped around his muscular frame, walking barefoot. His hands were bound by a potent magical artifact that restricted his movement. He wasn’t a full Agent but a rehabilitating criminal who had earned considerable trust from Gustaf and others through successful missions. Both Sinner and Esper, he was known as...

"The Shackled Saint."

A shiver raced down Louis’s spine as the title lingered in his mind. The Shackled Saint was notorious among agents—a contradictory figure who had once unleashed catastrophe with his powers but now served under heavy watch. His aura felt deceptively calm, almost peaceful, yet Louis sensed the crushing weight concealed within, like a tempest on the verge of unleashing.

"Don’t call me that," the man chuckled lightly, his tone blending humility with subtle mockery. "It makes me sound grander than I am. I’m only here because Gustaf finds me useful." He lifted his chained hands slightly, the cuffs pulsing faintly. "These ensure I stay in line."

"Unexpected. I didn’t think my father would send a rehabilitating criminal to assist me," Louis sighed. "Are we truly that short on agents?"

"After the massacre from that rogue Spiralwalker, we lack the numbers to handle every crisis," Stella explained with a weary sigh. "I apologize for your father, Prince Louis. As for this man, the key is whether he stays in control against the Grievance. If he falters, we all suffer. He’s extraordinarily powerful... but a risk."

"A risk~? So I’m just a tool to you all," the Shackled Saint laughed softly, gazing at the house. "Wow, what a lovely home. I adore the rustic charm—the dust on the beams, the occasional moth fluttering by."

"Hey, could you take this seriously?" Althea asked, frowning.

"Ugh, do we really have to watch him too?" Stella groaned.

"Come on, let’s not be like that. We need to cooperate," Radiohead said with an encouraging smile. "Right?"

Stone stepped forward, his steady presence cutting through the friction. "Enough. We’re wasting time. Louis, brief us properly. You summoned us for a reason, and it’s not to bicker over appearances or names."